Running a profitable tavern or inn inside a shady alley deep within the slums was an impossible task.Ezra had realized long back that Madam Moonfrey made most of her coin from selling stolen wares and smuggling goods.However, the familiar old faces getting drunk in her establishment at the oddest hours of the day meant that she ran the liquor business as a front for her illegal activities. And judging by her attire and the number of helping hands she had hired, it was clear that she was raking in quite a lot of coin.Ezra had no intention of interfering in her personal affairs or reminding her of her moral obligations, but today’s incident involving the city guard made him suspicious about her true nature of work.As Madam Moonfrey guided Ezra to the bar counter, he looked around suspiciously, trying to find clues that would lead him to the right answers. But everything seemed as normal as ever.“I see you have taken a liking to my humble establishment. Remember, if you are looking f
In the course of his short interaction with Marquis Desmond, if Ezra had learned anything it was that the man was extremely reserved and preferred staying aloof rather than mingling freely with his peers.A connection between the Marquis and a lowly smuggler like Madam Moonfrey seemed highly improbable. But the undeniable proof was right there in Ezra’s hand.“What would you want with a slum-dwelling trinket seller?” Ezra mumbled as he unfolded the letter and held it in front. As he hurriedly ran his eyes over the creased white paper, things became more intriguing. It read as follows:Dear Madam Moonfrey,I send my regards to the Bleeding Roses. You have been a valuable ally and helped us keep an eye on what transpires in the streets and between the sheets. His Grace is pleased with your efforts but advises you to exercise caution.Keep us informed of what the hyenas whisper in the dark, and we will keep watering your flowers. Long live the king! Long Live Magaravia!The letter ended
When Ezra returned to the mansion, the elite knight in charge of security informed Ezra that Count Gressil had left a while back to visit the Viscount, and Tanya had been summoned by the High Priestess.Ezra acknowledged with a nod and enquired about the remodeling work. The knight revealed that Count Gressil had arranged for some decorators and gardeners from the surrounding villages and they were going to arrive the very next day.The only issue was the extensive arrangements and remodeling would take a lot of time. And to get the job done within a day, they needed to vacate the premises.“His Excellency is looking for another temporary residence,” the knight added. “He has requested you to personally talk to the decorators and gardeners before they begin their work tomorrow.”Ezra nodded and instructed him to inform him as soon as the Count returned.Having the whole mansion to himself felt both liberating and lonely at the same time. Ever since Ezra had arrived in Magaravia, he ha
In the evening, Count Gressil and his Elite Knights returned to the mansion along with Tanya. Ezra joined them in the living room to discuss the next course of action.The look of satisfaction on Count Gressil’s face indicated that it had been a productive day for him. However, Tanya looked troubled over something.“How did things go with the Viscount?” Ezra asked the first question to the Count and Tanya eagerly turned to face her father.Count Gressil smiled and leaned forward with his hands on the table. “Viscount Forell seems quite impressed with Lord Nazarus. He told me he had his doubts about joining our cause before, but after your little conversation at the ball, he feels confident about your plans.”Tanya had already divulged her proposal to her father, and the Count readily accepted her plan. Even though it was criminal to plan something like deposing the king, the idea of replacing him with his daughter seemed to be the best way out of this mess.“I am told that Princess Ale
The following morning, Ezra woke up still dreaming of his last dance with Tanya, and his heart fluttered as her innocent face flashed before his eyes. All he could think of now was protecting her with his life and cherishing every moment spent in her presence.Marlin noticed the lovesick look on Ezra’s drowsy face and chirped in with his witty taunt.“I thought Lord Ramel was the only womanizer in your family. But clearly, your talent far exceeds his. After all, you managed to impress Lady Tanya in front of her father, and he hasn’t even tried to kill you yet.”Ezra quickly snapped out of his thoughts and got up from bed. “You know she is training to become a priestess someday. It’s best if I don’t get too far ahead of myself.”“But you already have, my Lord,” Marlin chuckled back. Ezra did not entertain him any further and quickly slipped into the bathroom to freshen up with a warm shower.***At the breakfast table, Count Gressil showed up with a group of blindfolded craftsmen and
The crowd erupted with roars as Ezra and Sam stepped out of the backroom and entered the arena. Some cheered for Ezra while others took jibes at the young boy beside him.“The Red Devil is back!”“No one can stand in the devil’s way!”“Look at that fledgling. I bet the Red Devil is going to use him like cannon fodder!”“We want to see blood today!”“The Red Devil will crush his foes!”Hearing the cries of the spectators, Sam felt both nervous and excited at the same time. Although a few people were booing him, it still felt good to know they had finally noticed him.To make the event more exciting, the organizers had deliberately decided to raise the stakes for this duel. Instead of randomly selecting an opposing pair through a lucky draw, they had made their own selection.“Ladies and gentlemen, the Grand Dueling Tournament has witnessed a soaring success this year, all thanks to His Majesty’s incredible vision and the efforts of our organizers. I welcome you to the second round of th
The obstacles and traps deployed inside the arena transformed it into a killing zone. It was a simple yet effective way to force the participants to strategize and come up with smart ideas instead of shooting each other in the face from point blank.Neither Rasher nor Lamier had any clue where their opponents were, but this wasn’t the first time they were fighting together. Since they had taken part in several tournaments and hunting expeditions as a team, this challenge hardly bothered them.While Lamier was reckless and impulsive, Rasher was calm and collected. This added a critical balance to their team, preventing any rash judgments.On one side of the arena, Rasher discussed things with Lamier and devised a plan to set up an ambush.Meanwhile, on the other end of the maze, Ezra continued scanning their surroundings. His Dragon Eye skill helped him detect the hidden traps and scan the path for hostiles. However, Sam being a poor E-level rookie, did not have access to any enhanced
The clever use of the Spectral Wraith’s Dark Possession ability shifted the scales in favor of Lamier and Rasher. Ezra had not only lost his dueling partner but was now forced to retaliate against Sam to prevent an early disaster.“Sam, I know you are still there. Fight the wraith!” Ezra yelled.But Sam did not bother replying. Instead, he fired his submachine gun, peppering him with magic bullets.Ezra’s Reflexive Armor flickered as it deflected the bullets, but he chose not to attack the rookie. Fortifying the magic shield around him, Ezra tried to talk some sense into his partner.“Get a grip on yourself. We are on the same team!” He said, straining hard to keep his shield active as it continuously drained his magic power to deflect the bullets. “Damn it, Sam. You leave me with no choice!"After emptying the whole magazine in one go, Sam tossed the submachine gun away and pulled out his dual five-shot revolvers. “Die! Die! Die!”Another flurry of rapid shots lit up Ezra’s magic shie